Best Italian Beef, please nominate - sorta long and goofy

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Best Italian Beef, please nominate - sorta long and goofy

It has been declared that November 15 will be the day that we determine The Best Italian Beef in Chicago (which would also the best in the world, wouldn't it?). Would you like to join us? It will begin at around 11am, exact time and location to be determined. We will then proceed to hit as many nominated locations as we can, and conclude with copious notes on who has the best roll, best giardinera, best sweet peppers, best gravy, best beef and the best dry and dipped sandwiches. There is even a small cadre of troublemakers already planning to do an unauthorized review of french fries as well. Of course, I frown upon this as being a distraction from our one, true, mission. Many postings will ensue, including notes and dissension regarding which is preferred, and how we could be such idiots as to omit the truly best place.

Want to join?

To move this forward, you can provide one of two things:

Nominate a contender.

We will choose based on nominations, and logistics, so if the best beef joint is really in Terre Haute, we will never know. But we need suggestions. So far, we have the following, in no particular order:

Al's, Portillo's, Mr. Beef, Johnnie's, Max's, Freddys (Bridgeport), Freddys (Cicero), Damenzo's, Vitore's, Bono's, Buona's, Roma's, Tore's, Suzy's(?). All of which seem to define some downtown, west side, southwest arc, but who knows? Also, there is no guarantee that all of these will be on the final itinerary. Please provide the location with your suggestion(s).

Be a taster.

We need tasters/reviewers. Please join the listserv, if so, as final details will be handled there. But you can nominate here. And remember the great Chicago tradition - vote early and vote often.

Before any of you mock the whole concept, be advised that I mock it, too. But it will be fun to compare the different sandwiches, and hear how others compare them as well. And the tourists will love it.

Lastly, if any local publications or other media outlets wish to use the fruit of our labors, just say no. Unless they offer a significant contribuition to Chowhound and full attributtion, of course.